Internet governance

APC and other civil society organizations believe that the internet is a global resource enabling human rights and development and should be managed in the public interest. A joint statement by APC and partners calls on BRICS governments (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), individually and collectively, to ensure that internet issues are addressed in the Fortaleza Declaration being drafted in Fortaleza, Brazil 14-16 July.

Later this week at the African Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Nigeria, the APC and International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) will advocate information and communications technologies (ICTs) as a means to access information, build knowledge and foster development. According to the latest figures from the International Telecommunications Union, 40% of the world’s population is using the internet, compared to 20% of the population in Africa. The workshop at the African IGF will explore concrete ways to increase public access such as through libraries and educational institutions, as a means to advance the UN’s post-2015 development agenda. Follow the discussion: #public access #post2015

Avri Doria is the first winner of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Multistakeholder Ethos Award Program. “The evaluation panel selected her from 22 nominees as the one who best demonstrated the spirit of collaboration as shown through empathy and a sincere desire to engage with people from other backgrounds, cultures and interests.”

A new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Mutuma Ruteere, was released in late May. APC and some of our members were part of the multi-stakeholder consultation process that led to the preparation of this report.

Internet intermediaries (ISPs, content providers, infrastructure providers) are increasingly being held liable for the content circulated by users. Two years after conducting research on the issue in Uganda in a project coordinated by APC, Lillian Nalwoga talked to APCNews about the latest developments in the country, where a recent anti-pornography law can go as far as sending intermediaries to prison.

Although internet intermediaries in South Africa are fairly protected against liability for their users’ content or behaviour on their platforms and networks, this comes with some rules that they have to abide by. Two years after the publication of an APC research report on intermediary liability in South Africa, APCNews talked to researchers Alex Comninos and Andrew Rens about the current situation in the country.

With a new regime in Kenya, the fate of internet intermediaries is uncertain. Two years after the publication of an APC research report on the issue, Grace Githaiga talked to APCNews on the latest developments in the country.

What do we mean by internet intermediary liability? Are social networking sites and search engines considered internet intermediaries? Do legal measures affecting intermediaries have an impact on users’ rights? Find out more in these FAQs.

In this editorial for a special edition of APCNews we look at the role of governments and the impact of regulations that hold internet intermediaries liable for content uploaded or circulated by users. We argue that protecting intermediaries is an important step for having a free and open internet and for promoting the development of regional content, and stress the importance of explicitly addressing the impact of current regulations on women and women’s rights defenders.